photo: Lukie

Roc Nation Sports/throne boxing held an international media conference call on Monday with Olympic Gold Medalist and reigning WBA super middleweight world champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 KOs) and former world title challenger Paul Smith (35-5, 20 KOs) gave their thoughts on Saturday night’s non-title clash at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Ward will be making his ret

Eddie Hearn, Smith’s promoter:

“Britain seems to have the creme of the crop for the middleweight division”

“If there was a time to fight Andre Ward, the time is right now”

Paul Smith:

“I’ve got all the respect in the world for Andre Ward and I thank him for giving me this shot, but I’m here to win…inactivity isn’t good for any fighter. Any fighter will tell you that. You have to stay active, you have to stay busy. All the training in the world in the gym is totally different…Andre Ward’s inactivity is what I can capitalize on Saturday night.”

“I have all the respect in the world for Andre Ward. But I’m 100% prepared to beat him”

“I believe his inactivity will show on Saturday night. Inactivity is a fighters worst enemy.”

“This fight will be one of my greatest accomplishments of my career.”

” I plan to give him something a little different Saturday night. But it depends on what Andre Ward we see in the ring.”

Andre Ward:

“It’s a beautiful thing when you come to fight week and you know that you haven’t cut any corners. I didn’t cut corners on any running. I didn’t cut corners on any sparring session. Every round for me counted. Every day counted. I’m more than prepared for anything Paul Smith brings to the table and I think this fight isn’t going to go the way he anticipates it…he’s gonna be hit early, he’s gonna be hit often, and he’s gonna realize very quick that ‘Man, this isn’t the guy that we scouted on paper.’”

“I can’t even explain the emotion I had and the frustration. I knew I wasn’t done fighting yet. I actually wrote two or three retirement speeches. I thought I had to be sent on my merry way.”

“If they plan to use my inactivity against me on Saturday night, they have the wrong game plan.”

“I want to see how my body feels first before moving up. I’m in no rush, and I had no problem making the weight.”

“I thought Smith was a lot smarter than that. I don’t know why he’s banking on my inactivity as my downfall. I’m gonna come in sharp”

“PPV doesn’t just happen overnight. I got to find the right dance partner. It’s all about the right fight.”